JP2020521223A - Storage shelf volume sensor with VOC sensing safety function - Google Patents

Abstract

Provides operation of overhead bin sensors used to monitor the volume used in a shelf, including VOC sensors that monitor luggage that may overheat in the shelf, such as lithium-ion batteries in electronic products To be done. Currently, fire or smoke detectors are not integrated into the storage shelves, leaving this area vulnerable to the spread of fire and the generation of gas due to electronic components that passengers frequently store. Early detection of such events may prevent the propagation of fires within the aircraft by reporting the events quickly and communicating the event location. The system described herein takes advantage of other patents that apply including wireless sensor networks and storage volume sensors. The sensor monitors the air quality in the shelf space to monitor for outgassing or smoldering loads.

Description

Storage shelves are widespread in passenger cabins of commercial aircraft. The shelves are located above the passenger seats and hold all types of luggage that passengers bring into the aircraft. A sensor for detecting the volume of a package placed in a storage shelf is disclosed in JP-A No. 2000-242242, "Apparatus and Method to Monitor the Occupied Volume with a Fixed ed." Variable Volume)" and Jouper "Patent Document 2 "Network system for autonomous data collection (Network System for Autonomous Data Collection)". Both U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,837,639 and 5,037,037 are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

Current shelf sensors detect articles that occupy a portion of the storage shelf volume and determine the volume occupied within the shelf. The shelf sensor reports the information to an external network to notify flight attendants, ground staff, and/or data collection systems.

The volume occupancy of the shelves is a valuable information, but it is necessary to monitor not only the used volume of the shelves but also the condition of the stored packages. More specifically, luggage, such as lithium batteries, as well as lithium batteries, large storage capacitors, devices including small electronic devices, can cause problems on board. In particular, lithium batteries have been the source of several in-flight accidents such as gas generation, electronic odor, and spontaneous combustion. Storage shelves represent the unique situation where laptops, tablets, smartphones and other electronic devices are stored inside carry-on baggage, briefcases and other holders. Each of these holders fuels the fire if it starts in the area of the bin.

No current fire or smoke detectors are incorporated into the shelves, making these enclosed compartments particularly vulnerable.

Therefore, it would be desirable to provide a device and method for monitoring the contents of storage bins.

Further, it would be desirable to provide a storage shelf sensor with a volatile organic compound (VOC) sensing capability.

US Application Publication No. 2015/0241209 U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2017/0255585

Disclosed is an overhead bin sensor for use in monitoring the volume occupied in a bin. This sensor is particularly suitable as a VOC sensor for monitoring luggage or articles that may be overheated in a storage shelf such as a lithium-ion battery for electronic products.

The VOC sensor is configured to early detect gas generation, odor, and fire from electronic components that are frequently stored by passengers. Early detection allows for quicker response on board and can even prevent and even prevent emergency landing by quickly reporting and alerting to events such as fire and gas emergencies on board. Become.

According to the present invention, the VOC sensor monitors for air quality within the storage rack space, thereby monitoring gas generation from the package or smoldering packages.

The foregoing summary, preferred embodiments, and other aspects of the present disclosure are best understood by reference to the following detailed description of specific embodiments when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Let's do it.

FIG. 1 is a sensor assembly according to one embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram of one embodiment of a sensor assembly in a storage shelf. FIG. 3A is a schematic diagram according to one embodiment. FIG. 3B is a schematic diagram of a wireless interface according to one embodiment. FIG. 3C is a schematic diagram of a ToF sensor according to one embodiment. FIG. 3D is a schematic diagram of a VOC sensor according to one embodiment.

Like reference numbers and designations in the various drawings indicate like elements. It should be understood that the arrows in the schematic drawings generally represent logical paths that indicate the direction of information or logic flow, and such arrows do not necessarily represent conventional electrical paths.

To mitigate fires or chemical spills, a system that can detect such problems early and inform the crew of the event and where it is in the shelf assembly is a system that allows the fire to go outside the bin. Instead of waiting for the fire to spread, it is possible to control the spread of fire and give crew time to respond to the situation.

FIG. 1 shows a sensor 103 for a volatile organic compound (VOC), a microcontroller (uC) 105, a radio (RAD) 107 for data transmission, an energy harvester (EH) 109 when necessary, and a shelf volume. 1 shows a sensor assembly 101 presenting a distance sensor 111 (Time of Flight, ToF).

In one embodiment, the round trip distance from the top of the shelf to the reflective surface (such as the bottom of the shelf, or the luggage stored on the bottom of the shelf), and then to the top of the shelf where the sensor resides is measured by a time-of-flight sensor. Represents the distance. For example, a time-of-flight sensor measures the time it takes for light to propagate from the sensor to a reflective surface and back again. In a further example, the distance from the sensor to the surface is measured by dividing this distance by 2 and the speed of light is measured. Thus, by obtaining the distance measured by the reference measurement with the empty shelf, the amount of space available on the storage shelf is calculated.

A volume/distance sensor is a time-of-flight sensor or other suitable type of sensor used for distance measurement. For example, such volume/distance sensors can be selected from infrared (IR) or laser (sub-IR) frequency sensors. These sensors are ideally adapted due to their small physical size and robustness. Multiple sensors are used to segment the storage area based on the length and depth of the shelf and to measure the distance from the top to the bottom of the shelf. For example, the length and depth of the storage rack may be measured and divided into a predetermined number of segments based on both length and depth, each segment having at least one sensor. To monitor smoke and ventilation of lithium batteries or other devices, multiple VOC sensors are used to monitor the air quality in the cabinet continuously or at pre-programmed intervals for critical events. When occurs, it notifies through the sensor network. Critical events described herein include VOCs being alert, dangerous, or at elevated levels, gassing, fires or other forms of combustion.

(Volume detection)
Each distance sensor uses the initial measurement as a reference and measures the distance from the top of the shelf to the luggage that is added as passengers load onto the aircraft. The microcontroller sets a time frame from measurement to measurement and calculates utilization based on the criteria and depth measurements obtained during sensor initialization. This is displayed to the crew in a central panel that displays the aircraft layout, bin location, used space or percentage of available space. This allows the crew to be alerted early to the volume of available shelf space when the passenger loads the overhead storage rack. By monitoring the volume of space, crew members can mitigate the increase in loading time by moving excess luggage from inside the aircraft to the cargo hold and find available shelf space. The system can simultaneously report available location and relative volume.

(Detection of air quality)
Air quality sensing is used to monitor events such as the production of vapor from lithium batteries, capacitors, and other energy storage devices. Energy storage devices generally present the unique problem of being self-powered. Lithium batteries are said to be prone to self-ignition due to impurities in the chemicals used to make the batteries. Lithium batteries store energy consumed by devices connected to themselves, such as laptops, tablet computers, and mobile phones, so lithium batteries can cause or prolong self-heating, gas generation, or ignition events. there is a possibility. This event in a hidden space, such as a bin, may not be visible to passengers or flight attendants until a fire begins to exit the bin itself. In this case, some, if not all, of the luggage on that shelf may be caught in the flaming fire. Early detection and precise location of events are of particular benefit and aid in flight safety.

In one embodiment, event notification may be near a bin, such as by a light emitting diode (LED) indicator on a remote panel, display, handheld device or overhead projection device. The projection device may be located above the shelf opposite the location of the shelf where the event is occurring. The projection device can project a red or other suitable color display on the front of the shelf in question, thereby quickly informing the flight attendant of the location of the critical event. In a further embodiment, the alerts may be extremely localized, such that a given segment within the bin includes a corresponding LED indicator, which is located above the corresponding segment. , Is configured to display alarms and point out when a critical event occurs.

In addition, the sensor can be used in spaces or locations where it is difficult to visually detect gassing or fire events, such as overhead, behind panels, sidewalls, under seats, galleys, closets, flight decks, or flight attendants. It may be a stand-alone device used to monitor rest areas and the like. A standalone sensor is a single or multiple VOC sensor, a microcontroller that operates the sensor, a radio, an energy storage device, or an energy harvester. Other sensors, such as IR (thermal sensors), can also be used in combination with the VOC sensor to detect and signal a pre- or post-ignition fire. Each of these sensors helps the flight attendant identify possible fires before they can spread. Reducing the time from event to detection means saving lives and equipment in the aircraft.

(Explanation of functions)
The sensor is preferably at the top of the overhead bin. By placing it here, it becomes possible to continuously measure the storage volume used. Also, steam tends to rise from failed devices. The top is preferred for obvious reasons, although other configurations may work.

FIG. 1 schematically illustrates four ToF sensors with three VOC sensors and a microcontroller (uC) circuit, including wireless and energy harvesting using solar cells or small battery cells. The ToF sensor measures the round trip distance from the sensor to the bottom of the shelf when the shelf is empty. Laser sensors are used in terms of speed, accuracy and resistance to ambient light. In general, selecting a frequency wavelength of light that is not contained in sunlight is advantageous in that ambient light does not interrupt the measurement cycle.

uC is the heart of the sensor and controls radio, sensor measurement, measurement timing, and radio transmission. The uC communicates with each sensor via an I2C (Inter-Integrated Circuit) interface for initializing each sensor and collecting measurement data regardless of ToF data or VOC data. Each sensor is individually enabled and communicates with uC.

Volumetric measurements are made periodically, such as once per second, once every 10 seconds, or other suitable period. Normally, volume measurements are made only while the aircraft is on board. That is, this data concerns only the loading process on the aircraft. On the other hand, the VOC sensor is set up during initialization with a pre-programmed threshold. The threshold value represents the minimum VOC level for detection and notification. The threshold level is set above the amount of VOC environment found in the environment in which the sensor is present. In a passenger airliner cabin, an exemplary VOC concentration environment is 300 ppb and an exemplary VOC concentration alarm trigger threshold is 500 ppb.

The VOC sensor is set to measure periodically, such as once every 250-60,000 milliseconds. The minimum time for each measurement of the current sensor is 250 ms. Delays of more than 60,000 milliseconds (60 seconds) between measurements may delay the detection of events in relatively real time. Oversampling at time intervals of less than 250 ms uses more power and reduces system battery life. Upper and lower sample rate limits may be exceeded depending on available power and other system requirements.

When the pre-programmed VOC level is exceeded, an interrupt is sent from the VOC sensor to uC. This interrupt indicates that the event triggered the sensor by exceeding a threshold. uC handles this event and sends an alert over the air to an external receiver, or uC enables a local light or display to indicate that an event has occurred in the bin. The display or remote display guides the flight attendant to the location of the event and encourages further action.

FIG. 2 illustrates one embodiment of the sensor assembly within the storage shelf 213. As shown, the sensor may be located on the top inside of the cabinet. Alternatively, other suitable locations may be utilized, such as the inner bottom or sides of the shelves.

3A to 3D are schematic diagrams of a sensor system including a uC, wireless, VOC sensor, and ToF sensor.

FIG. 3A shows a microcontroller/radio combination. This may be a single chip solution combining uC and radio, or a separate solution separating the radio and uC via a communication bus between the microcontroller and the radio. J1 is a USB programming port for loading software that allows uC, wireless, and sensors to work together. Regulator U1 provides regulated 3VDC power from the USB connector during proper cord loading. U2 is a 32-bit uC with wireless and communication bus to the sensor. By setting this interface to logic 1 by the chip select outputs of the microcontrollers CS0-CS7, the uC can individually address each sensor. Communication to the sensor is via the I2C interface. Since all sensors share a common bus, the chip select interface is used to determine which sensor to address at a particular point in time. Y1 is an oscillator that controls the operating frequency of uC.

FIG. 3B is a wireless interface. This is a 2.4 GHz radio where E1 is an antenna that matches the radio frequency. The associated component between the RFP/RFN output of the radio and the antenna is an impedance matching network that provides the maximum gain of the antenna with the minimum energy applied by the radio U6. Y2 sets a wireless operating frequency. Communication from the uC via the Serial Peripheral Interface (SPI) bus provides control of the radio, transfer of data from the uC to the radio, and a command set for wireless transmission of radio information.

FIG. 3C shows a ToF sensor used to measure the distance from the sensor to the floor of the shelf or the load within the shelf. To calculate the utilization, a baseline value is taken when the shelves are empty. Then, successive measurements are taken and compared with a reference value to calculate the percentage of used space under each sensor. The measurements from each sensor are averaged into the total volume used. The calculated and summed values for each segment can be reported to the display to show the available space, used space, and space available space in the shelves.

FIG. 3D shows a VOC sensor. These sensors are controlled by uC and measure the values of carbon dioxide and volatile organic compounds in the shelf space. The read value is compared to a threshold and, if the threshold is exceeded, a flight attendant is alerted of the event. uC starts the measurement and compares the result with a threshold. If the value exceeds that limit, the uC sends an alarm over the radio indicating which shelf and shelf segment the event is occurring to the next display near or away from the shelf.

It is to be appreciated that various components of the disclosed subject matter can communicate with each other in various ways. For example, the components can communicate with each other via wired or wireless, electrical signals or digital information.

While the disclosed subject matter has been described and illustrated with respect to its embodiments, the features of the disclosed embodiments can be combined, rearranged, etc. to create additional embodiments within the scope of the present invention. Those skilled in the art should appreciate that various other changes, omissions, and additions can be made therein and therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Claims (19)

A system for reducing the risk of fire or chemical exposure in an enclosed environment,
A volatile organic compound sensor (103) mounted on the inner surface of the enclosed environment, in communication with a pre-programmed microcontroller (105) at a threshold VOC concentration;
An indicator in communication with the microcontroller (105), effective in notifying when the threshold VOC concentration is exceeded. The system of claim 1, wherein the enclosed environment is a storage shelf (213). System according to claim 2, characterized in that the storage shelves are located in the passenger cabin of a commercial aircraft. A volatile organic compound (VOC) sensor (103) configured to communicate with a microcontroller (105);
A microcontroller (105),
A wireless (107) for data transmission,
An energy harvester (109) electrically interconnected with the microcontroller, the sensor assembly. The sensor assembly according to claim 4, further characterized by a distance sensor (111) for detecting shelf volume. Sensor assembly according to claim 5, characterized in that the distance sensor (111) is of infrared frequency. The distance sensor (111) is one of a plurality of distance sensors mounted on a surface of a storage rack and spaced so as to divide the storage rack into a plurality of segments. The sensor assembly according to claim 5, wherein The sensor assembly according to claim 7, wherein the segment is divided based on a length and a depth of a storage rack. Sensor assembly according to claim 7, characterized in that the distance sensor (111) is arranged to measure the distance from the top of the storage to the bottom of the storage rack. Sensor assembly according to claim 4, characterized in that the VOC sensor (103) is arranged to monitor for smoke or ventilation. The sensor assembly according to claim 10, wherein the smoke or ventilation originates from a lithium battery. Sensor assembly according to claim 10, characterized in that the VOC sensor (103) monitors the quality of the air in the storage cabinet. 13. Sensor assembly according to claim 12, characterized in that the VOC sensor (103) signals a critical event, the critical event. 14. The sensor assembly of claim 13, wherein the critical event is selected from the group consisting of elevated VOC level, outgassing, or fire. A method of detecting the storage shelf volume,
Measuring the initial reference measurement value of the storage rack (213),
Using a distance sensor (111) to measure the distance from the top of the storage rack to the top of the load;
Using a microcontroller (105) to set a time frame for measuring subsequent distances using the distance sensor;
Calculating a utilization rate based on the initial reference measurement value. 16. The method of claim 15, further comprising displaying a storage shelf position and space utilization within the storage shelf at the position on a display panel. 16. The method of claim 15, further characterized by detecting a critical event via a VOC sensor (103). 18. The method of claim 17, further characterized by signaling a critical event via the VOC sensor (103). 19. The method of claim 18, wherein the critical event is selected from the group consisting of elevated VOC levels, outgassing, or fire.